On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
I’ve published a couple of OTR posts out of order recently, so I’ll announce what’s coming up this way for a couple of weeks until I’m sure we have the series publishing in the right order!
Albatrossity
In the afternoon of the last day we spent in the Serengeti, we saw one of the birds on my bucket list, saw lions mating, and also renewed acquaintances with some critters previously displayed in this series. The next day we would pack away the cameras, load up the luggage onto a very cramped small plane, and head back to Arusha for a midnight flight home (via Amsterdam, Atlanta, and Wichita). So I have no pictures other than cell phone pics on that last day, which was action-packed but mostly undocumented by me!
Bucket-list bird! The Spotted Eagle-Owl (Bubo africanus) is one of the smaller eagle-owls, but a lifer nonetheless. One of its relatives, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl (Ketupa lacteus) was also on the bucket list (it has pink eyelids!), and can also be found in that part of Africa, but it was not seen on this trip. Nevertheless, this pair was very accommodating, and I have many more images of them. Only two this time! Click here for larger image.
I have not included very many pictures of zebras, even though they were abundant and are quite photogenic. So here is a quartet, engaging in what turns out to be a very effective predator warning system, resting their chins on the backs of other zebras so that they can detect a lion coming from any direction. Click here for larger image.
A lion would probably appreciate this young Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), but fortunately its mom was nearby, and keeping an eye out for things like that. Click here for larger image.
I’ve included this profile of a lioness (Panthera leo) because she is quite a regal-looking beast, and because it reminded me of some of the beautiful cave art that we saw in France a few years back. Click here for larger image.
Late in the afternoon we came across a trio of lions. There were two males, both bloodied from what was probably a fight over the single female. Here is the victor, and here is the video of what happened several times while we watched. Despite the brevity of this copulation, and the snarliness of the female, our guides assured us that the mission was accomplished. Click here for larger image.
The last mammal in the series, and then some birds. This Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) had found a nice cool mud puddle, and refused to vacate it when our vehicles pulled up. The phrase “Happy as a hog in a wallow” comes to mind! Click here for larger image.
Although Secretarybirds (Sagittarius serpentarius) forage on the ground and do a lot of walking, they can fly well, and they nest in trees. I don’t know if there was a tree in this nest or in one nearby, but this couple was very wary and suspicious when our vehicles were in the area. Click here for larger image.
It seems fitting that the last bird of this series should be the Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus), the iconic bird of East Africa and a favorite of anyone who has ever seen one in the wild. Rainbow-colored (and thus probably illegal in Florida), this stunning bird is only one of many avian reasons to visit this part of the planet. Click here for larger image.
On our trip to the airport the next day, our guide stopped the vehicle on the side of the highway exclaiming “The mountain is out!” Kilimanjaro is usually shrouded in clouds, but the clouds had cleared and he wanted us to see this magnificent peak. Not just another roadside attraction, and a wonderful view for our last day there. It’s a cell-phone photo, since the cameras were securely packed, but I was happy to record it! Click here for larger image.
Donatellonerd
thank you! every single one of those birds is just incredible — and the mammals also impressive. i have never seen (a picture of) an eagle-owl before — or lions copulating. amazing end to an amazing series (and about the only thing i like about Mondays).
Baud
Very cool.
eclare
OMG the mountain. So beautiful.
J.
Wow. These photos are fabulous. Thanks for sharing!
JeanneT
Fantastic. What a trip! You must have been so exhausted and both elated and sorry to leave when you boarded the plane for home.
delphinium
What a wonderful end to you trip-thanks for sharing all of these amazing photos!
Chris T.
Male lions are very modestly hung and extremely quick to finish up, which is probably why both of them seem so unsatisfied. 😀
Anyway
This might be my favorite Albatrossity compilation – the rainbow bird’s gotta be fake, right? The zebra quad is too cute, what the heck’s an eagle-owl (make up your mind, bird!) and words cannot do justice to the mountain – great way to begin the week. Thankyou so much.
Albatrossity
Thanks, all. It’s been fun reliving this trip with you!
I’m actually on the road right now, heading to the mountains of southeastern Arizona to see hummingbirds. Pictures to come, I hope!
arrieve
It’s hard to pick a favorite here, but I do love pictures of groups of zebras together. The patterns of their stripes are so much fun, and never quite seem real.
On the other hand, I have actually seen a lilac-breasted roller and am not entirely convinced that was real either. Thanks for sharing what was obviously a great trip.
YY_Sima Qian
Nice picture of the young Hartebeest! I have only seen adults in Tanzania & Botswana
& love the pics of the spotted eagle owls!
pieceofpeace
You’ve presented a sensational photo album of this adventure. Amazing Mt. K. pic, love the zebra formation and from all your picture ‘presents,’ I’ve developed an appreciation for birds accompanied with newfound understanding of birding.
WaterGirl
Am I the only one who is sad that this Serengeti series is coming to an end?
WaterGirl
I am totally taken by the young Hartebeest with its long gangly legs and knock knees.
edit: an evil person could make that zebra photo into a jigsaw puzzle!
way2blue
Albatrossity—Thank you for your Serengeti series. Great photos of a very cool safari. You have me reflecting back on my walking safari in Tsavo a couple years ago. Walking through the landscape as opposed to driving through (i’ve done both) allowed me to watch how herd animals react when sensing danger. We’d walk past a grassy slope covered with antelope, zebra, giraffes. And I would watch to see which would notice us first. Which would be first to flee. Which would follow along just ’cause everyone else did… (The giraffes would look up, then go about their grazing.) Thanks again.
mvr
Thanks for these and for the series. The two eagle owls shot is nice partly because it isn’t always easy to tell where they end and the foliage begins.
Albatrossity
@way2blue: yeah, walking would be interesting. But I think vehicles are the best for photographic purposes. Besides, I’m getting too old for long walks!
WaterGirl
@way2blue: I hope that’s a preview of your soon-to-be-submitted Walking Safari in Tsavo On the Road series. :-)